English Premier League Table Predictions

Charlie Klein

The 2009-2010 English Premier League Season is due to kick off August 15, just nine days from today. I can honestly say that I am more excited for the return of the EPL than I am for the NFL. There is no doubt in my mind on that subject. As my fellow writers on this blog will also do, I am going to deliver to you my table prediction for this upcoming season.

1. Manchester United

2. Chelsea

3. Liverpool

4. Manchester City

5. Arsenal

6. Aston Villa

7. Everton

8. Fulham

9. West Ham

10. Tottenham Hotspur

11. Wigan Athletic

12. Sunderland

13. Wolverhampton Wanderers

14. Bolton Wanderers

15. Stoke City

16. Birmingham City

17. Blackburn Rovers

18. Burnley

19. Portsmouth

20. Hull City

Storylines to follow:

Does the Top Four change for the first time since 2003?

Unless Arsenal finds itself a bonafide striker that has a great bill of health, I do not see them qualifying for the Champions League next season. Selling their only dependable striker to Manchester City along with their best centre half, Adebayor and Kolo Toure respectively, has ostensibly sold fourth place to the boys in baby blue. Add in the new players at the City of Manchester Stadium (Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz) and one should have the ingriedients for a top four finish. Ultimately it could be any number of teams, particularly Aston Villa and Everton, that overtake Arsenal for fourth place.

Can Manchester United win the league for the fourth year on the trot?

Many in England, particularly those who live outside of Trafford, are hoping that any other team could win the league this season. I understand their wishes, but as a Manchester United supporter and as a person with a rational mind, I do not see how any other team mounts a serious challenge to the Red Devils superiority. Yes, United did sell two goalscorers in Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo. Sure, the Red Devils will be without first team keeper Edwin Van Der Sar for the first two months of the season. Both of those facts will not be enough to derail a team that has the experience and depth of talent to repeat once again.

How will the three promoted teams fare in the Premiership?

The only promoted club that I picked to face the drop at the end of this season is Burnley, primarily because I do not think they have done enough to change the side that miraculously qualified for promotion last term. Owen Coyle is a good manager but tactics can only get a team so far in the EPL. I am impressed with the work that Wolverhampton Wanderers have done adding experience and depth to a team that won the Coca-Cola Championship last season by a safe margin. As for Birmingham, I like their manager Alex McLeish and their squad depth is better than the three teams I picked for the drop.

Who gets relegated?

Even though Portsmouth was bought by a wealthy Arab, I do not believe they have the talent to hang with most teams in the Premier League. Selling Peter Crouch and Glenn Johnson, two of their best and most qualified players to play for the England National Team, has done nothing to help their cause. Hull City I feel like have been narrowly avoiding relegation since they were promoted, and this year I refuse to believe they will be able to avoid the drop. If they do secure American striker Jozy Altidore on loan, that will certainly make things interesting, but I do not think it will be enough to secure them Premier League football next term.

And then I could be totally wrong on everything. The beauty of football is that teams come from nowhere and succeed in ways none of the pundits predicted. All I want this year is for my boys to win a fourth consecutive league and to watch some entertaining league football in the process. The best nine consecutive months of the year are about to return!